BMX is not just a sport, it’s a fearless recreational activity enjoyed by millions! That being said, the relationship between the rider, his bike, and sneakers is sacred! Being a BMX enthusiast, the need to feel safe while challenging your skills each time, avoiding any injuries is a priority! Compared to conventional sport shoes, BMX shoes are a notch higher when it comes to providing security through enhanced traction and sturdier outer soles.
Getting your new BMX shoes may be tricky especially if you are a BMX shoe virgin! Apart from the tricks and stunts you wish to perform, the basic parameters remain the same; durability, material, comfort, weight & the sole type to ensure grip and stability. Freestyle cyclists prefer skating shoes as they conform to most of the above parameters. Divided into three types – low/mid/high-tops, we’ve narrowed down our top picks for your best BMX shoes.
7 Best BMX Shoes Reviewed
DC Shoes Pure Action
The popularity of these classics among a league of newbies has stood its ground by serving justice in terms of durability, simple aesthetics, and comfort.
The DC Men’s Pure Action is a hit among the BMX riders for providing enough room for the feet in terms of wideness, making sure the toes breathe and are not left clamped and hurting.
The tongue and collar are padded with foam, which makes these shoes enjoyable along with the rubber outsoles ensuring stability and a firm grip over your BMX pedal!
The fabric and inside soles are
long-lasting. Being low-top skating sneakers they are as flat-footed as they can be, fixable with insoles if needed.
Pros
- Durable
- Light-weight
- Sturdy
- Easy to clean
- Comfortable
Cons
- Size chart inaccurate
Overall, fulfilling the expectations of the majority of BMX riders providing them with a great blend of quality, comfort, durability, affordability, and classy looks, earns this a top tier spot on our list.
Ordering tip
If you know your size and you want the shoes to be tight, then go up by a half size, if you want them a bit flexible then scale up a full size higher, as recommended by reviewers.
DC Men’s Court Graffik Skate Shoe
DC sneakers have created their niche by offering longevity, comfort, and style.
DC being a reputable brand with a loyal customer base has been a market leader for years as it understands the wants of its buyers and truthfully delivers on their expectations.
A hunt for the perfect BMX shoes will have the DC Court Graffik as a major contender. It is truly difficult to be unsatisfied with a pair of these.
Wondering how these are different from the DC Men’s Pure Action Sports Sneakers?
Tighten your shoelaces and hop on, The DC Graffik offers better quality protection by providing refined cushioned panels for superior protection of the heels!
DC Graffik is highly recommended for BMX riders who perform tricks on a regular basis, as they are tighter in comparison with the DC Pure Action, further aiding in bolstering maximum grip and friction.
The sturdy leather on the outside coupled with a few ventilation holes on the side, delivers extra breathability to the feet, suitable even for the hottest summer days.
A striking similarity with the DC Pure Action is its foam padded tongue and collars with mesh lining, that keep the sweat on your feet in check and the incredible cushioning gives an added comfort to them.
Pros
- Extra Padding
- Tighter
- Available in approx 24 colors
- Affordable
- Dependable
Cons
- Not recommended as work shoes
- Sizing chart inaccurate
It’s safe to say that these shoes won’t let a BMX rider be disappointed, given all the comfort, style, and robustness that it offers.
Vans Women’s Slip-on Core Classics
Vans are timeless and remain a classic, well, they have been around since the 1960s!
The Vans Women’s Slip-on Core Classics are one of the leading unisex canvas, sitting steady upon the rubber sole making it a personal favorite, evoking nostalgia with each step!
They allow flexibility in movement of your foot and the fabric allows breathability along with the waffle outsoles providing a sturdy grip over the pedal, making it one of the best shoes for BMX riders.
Being a classic, for a trendy retro appearance, it’s easy to find the style and colors that suit your preferences.
Designed without laces, they are easy slip-ons, convenient to use, and maintain.
Pros
- 100% canvas
- Stylish
- Flexible
- Unisex
Cons
- Not recommended for specialized BMX riders.
BMX riders are presented with a pair of casual shoes that live up to their durability and comfort terrain while maintaining their pleasing aesthetic.
Etnies Men’s Kingpin Skateboarding Shoe
Etnies has created its own niche with revolutionary designs, through evolved and enhanced features. The design for Etnies Kingpin is inspired by its predecessor, The Etnies Fader.
Being a skater shoe, these are flat and stiff, well constructed to grip around the feet and well-cushioned to ensure comfort.
The padding in the tongue is thick to ensure minimum harm and maximum stability while cruising on your BMX and is also great for the cold weather. The flat sole with rounded edges is great for walking
They are light and fit like cushy gloves, the structure and assembly of these lasting pairs itself is a charmer for the BMX riders.
Die-cut EVA midsole and Insole ensure longevity and flexibility, while the 400 NBS outsole provides a firm grip and stability.
The perforated upper allows adequate airflow, tolerating the least amount of sweat and odor.
Pros
- Durable
- Black
- Good Traction
Cons
- Absence of metal rings for the shoelaces
The Etnies aces the list when it comes to providing a sturdy, stylish, comfortable, protective pair of sneakers, making it one of our top choices for BMX riders.
Osiris Men’s Protocol Skate Shoes
Osiris is a reputed brand when it comes to skateboarding footwear. Over the years, they have incorporated lifestyle and street elements. The combination of experience and innovation has allowed Osiris to be one of the premier action sports footwear brands globally.
These are preferred by BMX riders more than skateboarders as they equip you with great grip and comfort throughout the ride.
The Protocol by Osiris caters to both the classy and funkier trends, with the availability of diverse color combinations in leather and suede (all synthetic).
It’s worth mentioning that these are light with adequate ventilation, keeping your feet dry and fresh, a go-to even for the hot days.
The abrasion-resistant rubber outsole goes pretty high up which protects you from injuries and ensures the durability of the shoes.
The Osiris Men’s Protocol Skateboarding Shoe is highly recommended for beginner/average BMX riders as they are not heavy, come with a lightweight padded tongue and collars to protect you from lacerations.
Pros
- Lightweight
- Creative Design
- Durable
Cons
- Shoe Laces too long
- Size chart inaccurate
Overall, the Osiris Protocol BMX Shoes are one of the top choices for BMX riders being high performing and protected.
Osiris Relic BMX Shoes
Osiris caters to all types of riders from amateurs to experienced BMX riders!
The Osiris Relic is recommended for those who have been riding for a while now since the construction of this shoe is a lot tighter to provide control and stability to the BMX rider.
With lightweight padding, it provides comfort and flexibility, and to enhance the durability they are designed with reinforced high abrasion areas.
They are very forgiving to scratches and dirt, cleans right up. Making it easy to maintain! The reasonably priced Relic model carries a timeless skate look with improved features
Pros
- Wide range of colors offered
- Tighter
- Durable
- Lightweight
Cons
- Sizing chart inaccurate (Tip: Go up one size higher than your regular)
- Insole is thin
With the style, comfort, and promising design of the Osiris Relics, they are highly recommended for BMX riders.
Men’s Freerider MTB Bike Shoes
Five Ten is known worldwide for the high-quality, fit and friction of their shoes. Focusing specifically on athletic wear with remarkable grip and innovative designs, they have maintained their mark with incredible rubber soles and high-performance sneakers built to last.
Men’s Freerider MTB Bike Shoes boast the right amount of stiffness without being hard to walk in while the soles are grippy enough on the pedal pins. The grip is superb but not so much as to be unable to reposition the foot making it a great choice for BMX riders.
The shoe is very secure on the pedal over rough obstacles and terrain, encouraging the performance of tricks and turns.
Hitting mild jumps or a rocky, rooty downhill section will no longer be a concern over your feet sliding or bouncing off the pedal.
Being biking shoes they are crafted to be flat without providing major arch support but can be used as everyday trainers too.
Great looking, rugged, comfortable, and just amazing, they are highly recommended for BMX riders as it gives ample protection to their feet, ensuring breathability through its design.
These shoes took me from “avid roadie but timid BMX rider on clipless” to “Hey, let me try THAT again!”, making them a personal favorite!
The only concern was the shoelaces that seemed to run too long and wide, a quick fix is to switch to the Xpand (elastic laces) as the fit of them having the elastic lock laces on these trail runners makes it a complete package, further enhancing your comfort experience!
Pros
- Very Sturdy
- Stiff
- Flexible
Cons
- Shoelaces run too long
Overall, if you are still on the fence, we’d highly recommend giving these a shot, for a BMX rider these offer enough features to be safe and satisfied!
Conclusion
Brands like DC, Vans, Etnies, Osiris dominate the market, given the supreme quality they compete on and refined craftsmanship they offer with their products.
A few other notable recommendations you might what to check out are:
Our comprehensive buying guide helps you in determining the best BMX shoes according to your skills and preferences.
Taking the journey from being a beginner to being experienced, make sure your choice of shoes never fails you, for that is what will determine success or failure while your adrenaline rushes and your feet pedal in happiness.
Overall, consider all the factors, ranging from size to the effective grip you need, before you buy the best-suited companion for your feet!